10 Things to Know Before Moving South

As you all know I am still adapting to my new city, even after 5 months. So, I thought it would be fun to make a list of some of the things I have noticed moving almost 900 miles from home.

Michigan Vs. Alabama, ding, ding, ding!

1. Pop

When someone asks what they can bring to a party and you respond with “can you bring a couple 2 liters of pop?” they know you are referring to different brands of soda. If you say that below the Mason Dixon line you get a confused look and an “excuse me?”. But if you ask them to bring some Coke there are no confused looks and they bring a variety of the delicious carbonated beverages. Now, I don’t know if long ago the Coca-Cola company brain washed the southern states to always want their brand or if we are just lazy in the North to refer to all the brands separately, but it is definitely something I catch now.

Tip: Ordering a sweet tea is a good way to avoid the problem all together.

2. Manners

Ever since I was little I was told to mind my P’s and Q’s. I was taught to say excuse me when passing someone or walking in front of someone in the grocery store but, the South has a higher expectation for manners. It’s not just a lie the country songs stick in your head when they sing about Mamas and front porches, it is the truth. Everywhere you go you will hear people answer with “Yes Ma’am” or a “No sir” it doesn’t matter if they are 6 or 68 if you are answering someone who is older then you that is how you respond.

Another thing that is different are parents or elders are hardly referred to by just their first name. Growing up, up north you address your friends parents as Mr. or Mrs. *Insert last name* as we got older they started asking us to call them by their first names. In the South that is not the case. Most of the time parents, or people who are older then you are referred to as Miss or Mr. *Insert first name* and that doesn’t change no matter how old you get. This all felt weird to me at first because it was a new level of politeness. Also, my Grandma would always tell my boyfriend to not call her Ma’am so I thought someone would take it the wrong way. As time passed (like a few days) I now find myself saying it with ease & correcting the little girl I nanny when she responses with just a yes. Now, I am not saying Northerner’s are rude but it is just to a different level down here and it is actually really nice.

3. Bugs

Bugs with 4 legs, 8 legs, 100 legs. Bugs with wings, bugs that bite, sting or make you itch. We have them all, which is terrifying all on its own. Pest control companies are not going broke down here that is for sure. I am used to having cold enough weather to make these little creepy crawlies to go away for a few months, but that was not the case this winter. I was bitten by a mosquito in February, saw fireflies in March (which was not a bad thing) and a pest control guy came and sprayed our rental home in the middle of “winter”. The weather is beautiful don’t get me wrong and chances of finding one of the bugs that will cause harm to you are slim unless you are on Naked and Afraid. Nonetheless always keep the bug spray in your car and watch for ant beds.

4. Football

When you are born you are given a name and a family, right? Right. Down here you get a little more when you are born, a football team. That’s right, you didn’t read that wrong, a football team. Alabama doesn’t have a professional team so college is all we got. You either learn to yell War Eagle or Roll Tide before you can walk. I was told by a 4 year old that I couldn’t color with the red crayon because that’s Alabamas colors, they are mean and she likes Auburn. Saturdays are sacred and that means events, weddings, and vacations are planned around the pig skin and jerseys. You have been thinking about getting married in the fall down south? Pick a weekend where there is a big game happening and you are most likely to get the date you want. Inviting people who live down south may be a little tricky unless you are willing to have a TV playing the games or are okay with them having their phones out waiting on updates.

5. Summer Clothes

I was in absolute shock when it was the end of February and I am wearing shorts and a tank top, sweating. This made me realize my 2 pairs of shorts, and a hand full of tank tops are no longer going to cut it. I don’t think I wore even half of my sweaters this winter, and now we are transitioning to spring where the lows are in the 70’s. I am now accepting donations for me to update my summer wardrobe because I am in trouble! Very rarely where I grew up, would you be comfortable with a pair of jeans or a sweater when the sun went down. When the sun goes down here in the summer it is still 90 degrees. Thank the Lord for natural springs, lakes, and water parks because it’s about to be a brutal awakening in the middle of July. We have already bought a kiddie pool just for our puppies to lay in, in the back yard, although I am sure we will make them share!

6. Snow

Snow is a bad word to school officials & first responders down here. To everyone else it is the best word they could ever hear! It doesn’t snow down here often, it seems like once in every 8 years. Except the last couple years they have been hit with a marshmallow world. Now let me tell you this is no joke, EVERYTHING shuts down. I was told that would happen but I didn’t realize that it would mean businesses, restaurants or doctors offices would close. You name it, it was closed. I am a nanny and we had THREE days off, for ONE inch of snow. It was all because the ice would not melt on the shady roads and would refreeze overnight. No salt trucks, or plows to help it out. It was a mess. The snow had melted by the first day but you would go out on days 2 or 3 and people were still driving like Michiganders do when it is a white out as 6 more inches accumulate. Slow and steady.

7. Koozies

When I met Steven he had a drawer full of koozies, you know the foam things that keep your beverage cold. We had a couple of them growing up in the kitchen drawer, they always were from the 80’s and from some vacation spot. My family never used them. We had friends visit us in Michigan and they had brought koozies to the bar. I thought that’s strange, why would you bring that to a restaurant? However, I am sad to say I have turned into a koozie lover. Our top shelf is full of brightly colored foam can holders. Someone is giving away a free one? You better believe we are taking them and yes, there is now one in my purse. Although that was by accident, we got a free one and it has just not made it in the cupboard with its friends. Who doesn’t like to keep their hands from freezing off when they sit at a fire, or walk downtown during Mardi Gras?!

8. Closed On Sundays

Remember in the good old days when it was Sunday and you knew everything was closed so you had to no choice but to talk to your family or play with friends? Yeah, neither do I. But thats how it is down here. Now it isn’t that extreme where everything is closed, you can still go grocery shopping or to a movie. It is mostly the privately owned stores that choose to be open for only 6 days out of the week. Let me tell you though you will ALWAYS crave that restaurant that is closed on Sunday when you are thinking of what to have for dinner. Ahem, Chick-fil-A I am talking to you.  But, it is what it is and that’s life. I will live without my delicious chicken sandwich, side of fruit cup and fresh squeezed lemonade another day. Also now accepting donations to feed that addiction.

9. BBQ

Alright y’all, here is a serious topic. Barbecue. You don’t mess with a mans’s (or women’s) BBQ. They know what they like and what they are doing. Forget your little chain store that has made its way north, that is not what you need in your stomach. Put the pulled pork sandwich down and step away. Some of the best BBQ I have ever had, has come from a one room store where the smoker is out back and you better believe the lady taking your order is going to call you baby. They have morbid pig figurines all over and as their mascot but there is no talking happening when that sandwich is being eaten. The process takes time and that is what makes it good, what makes it better is that it is a family or secret recipe that has been created with love.

10. Classic Cars

I am from the motor city, well a little outside of it but the point is I have seen old cars. It is always in the summer when the weather is just right, the heat from the sun is starting to cool as it sets for the night. You will see some old man with his wife of 20 years (or 5 I am not one to judge) rolling to the ice cream store in his 1955 Ford Victoria. It’s all waxed up & restored to new. But thats the only time you are going to see them, summer time. The reason? The salt from that year’s winters will ruin it if it is taken out any sooner. Yep, you guessed it, thats not the case down here. No salt means no corrosion. Cars last longer down here, unless you are getting sprayed by the ocean. I am no car expert I am just going off of my observation and what I have been told. Although there is something special about seeing a classic car on Christmas with an elderly couple in the front seat. Cue the happy tears.

Y’all made it to the end! Thank you, I am impressed! Please comment below and share your feedback on what I can do to improve my posts OR your favorite thing about the south!